Observations  on  the  Role  of  Church  Leaders

 

reflections on  I & II Timothy

 

Pray  –  I Tim 2:1-2

 

2:1-2     Pray for            a) everyone, 

b) ask God to help and bless them all, 

c) tell God how thankful you are for each of them,  & 

d) pray for kings and leaders

 

 

 

The ABC's of Leader Character/ Attributes  –  I Tim 3:1-13/ 4:1-2 & 7-8

 

3:1        a) Anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile – willing

    

3:2,13    b) must have a good reputation

    

3:2,12    c) be married/ husband of only one wife/ faithful in marriage

    

3:2        d) self-controlled/ temperate

    

3:2        e) sensible/ prudent

    

3:2        f) well-behaved

    

3:2        g) friendly to strangers

    

3:2        h) able/ apt to teach

    

3:3,8     i) must not be heavy drinkers

    

3:3        j) must not be troublemakers/ anxious to fight

    

3:3        k) rather, they must be  kind

    

3:3        l) gentle

    

3:3,8     m) free from the love of money

    

3:4,12    n) in control of their own families/ manages his own household well

    

3:4        o) must see that their children are obedient and always respectful

    

3:6        p) not new followers of the Lord

    

3:7        q) well-respected by people who are not followers of the Lord

    

3:8,11    r) serious/ dignified

    

3:8        s) must not be liars

    

3:9        t) must have a clear conscience

    

3:9        u) hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith

    

3:10      v) proven to be beyond reproach

    

3:11      w) not a gossip

    

3:11      x) faithful in everything they do

    

4:1-2,7  y) not be fooled by evil spirits, teachings from demons, false claims of liars, or worldly fables

    

4:8        z) work hard to be truly godly/ discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness

 

The ABC's of Teaching  –  I Tim 1:5 & 18-19/ 2:4-6/ 3:16/ 4:6-16/ 5:1-3  and  II Tim 1:9-10

     

1:5        Goals for your instruction – You must teach people to have:

a) genuine love,

b) a good conscience,  &

c) true faith

    

4:6        d) You must also have a teachable spirit – If you follow these instructions, you will fight like a good

1:18b-19a          soldier.  You will be faithful and have a clear conscience.

    

4:7        e) don't waste time on worthless, senseless stories

    

4:7-8     f) work hard/ discipline yourself

    

4:11      g) teach and prescribe/ tell everyone to do what you say

    

4:12      h) don't let people make fun of you because of your age

    

4:12      i) set an example for others by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity

    

4:13      j) keep on reading the Scriptures in public

    

4:13      k) give attention to exhortation/ preaching and teaching

    

4:14      l) use the gift you were given

    

4:15      m) remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing

    

4:16      n) be careful about the way you live

    

4:16      o) be careful about what you teach

    

4:16      p) persevere

    

5:1-3     q) be practical and sensible ... use wisdom in dealing with people

    

2:4-6     r) keep the message simple and repeat it often

3:16/ II Tim 1:9-10

 

Twelve-Step Program:  Know Your Identity  – I Tim 1:1 + 12-20/ 2:7/ 4:10/ 6:7  

II Tim 1:1 + 11-12/ 4:17-18

    

II Tim 1:1/ 4:18  1. God has given you eternal life through Jesus Christ;  grafted you into the family of God

    

I Tim 1:15         2. You  used  to be a sinner/ controlled by your sin nature

    

I Tim 1:13         3. God gave grace (unmerited mercy/ favor) to you

    

I Tim 1:16         4. God had mercy on you so that you could be an example for others

    

I Tim 4:10         5. Know that you have put your hope in the living God – who is able to save everyone

    

I Tim 1:12         6. Know the source of your strength and protection

II Tim 1:12/ 4:17

    

I Tim 1:14         7. God is kind to you ... blessed you with faith and love just like His own

    

I Tim 1:1           8. Know your main purpose in life – as determined/ gifted by God

II Tim 1:1

    

I Tim 2:7           9. Know the specifics of your calling

II Tim 1:11

    

I Tim 1:20         10. Know your limitations ... be willing to let God be God (& Satan to  "reward"  his own!)

    

I Tim 6:7           11. Know your limitations ... how you came into this world  and  what you'll leave with

    

I Tim 1:12         12. Know that God is willing  and  desirous  of trusting you

II Tim 1:12

 

The ABC's of Leadership Development/ Discipleship  –         I Tim 5:21-25  and 

II Tim 1:1-14/ 2:1-10/ 3:10-17/ 4:2-5

 

5:21      a) avoid personality-based leader selection [vs. gift-based] –

                        be fair with everyone, and don't have any favorites

    

5:22      b) don't be too quick to accept people into the service of the Lord by placing your hands on them

    

5:22      c) keep yourself free from sin/ stay close to God

    

5:23      d) stop drinking water only, take a little wine to help your stomach trouble and other illnesses

    

5:24      e) be cautious/ avoid judging       – some men's sins are more evident than others

5:25                                                      – some men's deeds are more evident than others

    

II Tim

1:2-3     f) intercede for those in your care ... really care for them

    

1:4-5

4:2        g) encourage them, let them know you want what's best for them, cheer them up

    

1:6,8, & 14

3:14      h) exhort them to be good stewards over what God has given them

    

1:7

2:1        i) recognize the empowering source

    

1:11      j) know your own calling

    

1:13      k) model

    

2:1        l) know God's character

    

2:2

4:2        m) teach & preach

    

2:3

4:5        n) persevere, stay calm, be willing to suffer

    

2:4        o) stay focussed

    

2:4        p) have a strategy

    

2:5-8     q) develop tactics;  e.g.  1] obey rules, 2] work hard, 3] remember teaching, & 4] keep mind on Christ

    

2:10      r) be committed

     

3:10      s) be transparent

    

3:10      t) offer intimacy/ personal knowledge

    

2:13

3:11      u) don't forget that God is faithful/ sovereign

    

3:12      v) count the cost

    

3:16-17 w) use the Word

    

4:2        x) be ready and willing at all times

    

4:2        y) don't hesitate to correct people

    

4:2        z) be patient

 

 

 

The ABC's of Godly Living  –  I Tim 6:1-21  and  II Tim 2:14-26

 

6:1-2     a) submit + serve

    

6:8-10   b) be satisfied just to have food and clothes ... do not seek to get rich

    

6:11      c) keep away from all evil things

II Tim 2:19 + 21

    

6:11      d) try your best to please God

II Tim 2:21

    

6:11      e) try your best to be like Him – faithful, loving, patient, dependable, and gentle/ easy to get along with

II Tim 2:22 + 24

    

6:12      f) fight the good fight for the faith and claim eternal life

    

6:14      g) promise to obey God completely and fully

    

6:17      h) warn against pride and trust in wealth

    

6:17      i) tell people to have faith in God

    

6:18      j) do as many good deeds as you can

II Tim 2:21

    

6:18      k) help as many people as you can

    

6:18      l) be generous, share

    

6:20      m) guard what God has placed in your care

    

6:20      n) don't pay any attention to godless, stupid talk that sounds smart but really isn't; 

II Tim 2:14 + 23            don't argue or listen to arguments about words

    

6:21      o) pray for others

    

II Tim

2:15      p) stay balanced, focussed on the truth

    

2:16-17 q) avoid loose talk/ gossip

    

2:18      r) recognize and steer clear of false teaching

    

2:21      s) purify yourself ... seek purity in all areas of life

    

2:22      t) run from temptation

    

2:22      u) always do the right thing/ what's right

    

2:22      v) worship with people whose hearts are pure (don't be unequally yoked)

    

2:24      w) don't be a trouble-maker ... be kind to everyone

    

2:24      x) be a good teacher

    

2:25      y) confront with humility

    

2:26      z) be an optimist,  i.e.  hope for the best in situations and people

 

 

 

 

 

Warren D. Carter

Ldr-Role

04.Mai.94